Formula 1 | Palmer on the 2021 regulations: “Aston Martin can be a valid alternative to Ferrari”

Aston Martin is ready to take Ferrari's place if the latter were to abandon the Formula One Circus.

In an interview given to the columns of F1 Racing, Andy Palmer spoke about the possible entry of Aston Martin as an engine manufacturer, underlining how the possibility is alive and concrete, especially after the latest commercial and technical partnership with the Red Bull team.

According to Palmer, Aston Martin can boast a market similar to that of Ferrari, which is why the English brand could easily take the place of the Maranello Scuderia if the latter, not satisfied with the new technical regulations, abandoned the Circus.

Liberty Media, we remember, wants to introduce much simpler regulations with standardized components. As regards the engine, however, the intention would be to confirm the current architecture, i.e. hybrid V6 turbos, with the difference that the MGU-H engine connected to the turbine would be removed.

Here are the words of Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin: “Liberty wants new engines for 2021 and their idea is to continue this sport. The teams involved, however, do not want to change the current configuration of the power units. The problem is that today there are different interested parties and it is no longer a comparison between Ferrari vs FIA or Liberty Media. Red Bull comes to mind, when a couple of seasons ago it was left uncovered and had to adapt with the power units."

“Today the situation is no longer like this because they have someone behind them who tells them: if the rules are written in this way, we might be interested in supplying an engine” he added. “There is an alternative and such a situation cannot be ignored. Ferrari threatens to leave the Circus, but Liberty can easily say: well, ok, Aston and Ferrari have the same market and the same type of customers. Do you want to leave? Ok, that's the way. F1 needs a change and not an arms race. As for Aston, we know how difficult it is to create a competitive power unit and we know how long the road ahead is."

“If there is a change, perhaps with a more economically sustainable structure, we will be the first to show an interest in an active role within the Circus. Obviously we will work with partners because it is not our intention to provide our customers with a poorly performing power unit" he concluded.